Hebrews 3:12-13 I need friends to hold me accountable

Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-13  See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 

Observation:  We as Christian brothers and sisters need to help each other.  We need to stop each other from turning away from God.  We need to be that shepherd that is going after the one sheep.  This verse also tells us that sin is deceitful and hardens us. 

Wikipedia’s points to deception when you look up deceitful:   

Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, and sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment. There is also self-deception as in bad faith.

Application:   I can see in my life that when I am sinning, when I do not want to be self-disciplined, I am deceived.  I start to justify with reasons:  there is always tomorrow, just this one bite, meal, day, and then a week could go by and I am completely off track.   This applies to my life with food, exercise, daily devotions, and praying.  It all requires my discipline.  If I am not, then I start to harden. 

I need to be soft, pliable, and ready to change as God wants.  Sin wants me to be hardened and not open.   I need friend to hold me accountable.

Prayer:  Lord Almighty, thank you for your passion.  I am not worthy for your sacrifice.  I did not do anything to deserve your grace.   Thank you for supportive friends. Help us to work together through Your grace for Your glory.  Amen.